Lowell j



(No Model.)

L. J. BULLARD.

CLASP.

No. 388,020'I Patnted Aug. 21, 1888.

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UNiTnio STATES LOVELL J. BULLARD,

PATENT @einen OF NEW YORK, N. Y,

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,020, dated August2l, 1888.

(No model.)

To @ZZ wtoit it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOWELL J. BULLARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventeda new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Nippers, of which the followingis a full, clear, exact, and concise description, reference bein ghad tothe accompanying drawings, in which similar letters refer to sxnilarparts throughout the several views.

The object ot my invention is to provide a cuff-holder which may bereadily attached to a sleeve or lining and detached therefrom at will,and which shall be free from liability to accidental displacement ordisengagement. This I accomplish by my device, which consists in adouble clasp, one clasp of which is an ordinary outwardly-opening claspfor holding a cuff, the other clasp of such double clasp being aninwardly-opening clasp, the fixed jaw of which is provided withintroverted or curved prongs, and the movable jaw of which is providedwith corresponding apertures, openings, or depressions fitted to receivesuch prongs and conjointly adapted for attachment to the lining orsleeve by the engagement of the prongs therewith, both clasps beingconnected to each other by a shank common to both to .form acuff-holder.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my doubleclasp, showing the mode of attachment of my terminal inwardly-openingclasp to a sleeve-lining, and of suspension of a false culi' by theother terminal outwardlyopening clasp, together with the shank common toboth clasps. Fig. 2 is a like view of the same with the cuftend claspinverted or reversed and the sleeve-end clasp as terminal at the bottomof the shank. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the double clasp shown inFig. l.

A A are fixed jaws; A A', a movable jaw in each inwardly-opening clasp;A2 A, a movablejaw'in each outwardlyopening clasp, B B,connecting-shank; C, culi; D, cloth or sleeve; L, lining of same; a a.,prongs, Z b, apertures or depressions; c c', springs to movable jaws; dd, pivots to jaws and supports to springs. e is a projecting boss orhold.

. For convenience of reference I term the inwardly-opening clasp end thesleeve end,7 as

distinguished from the outwardly opening clasp end, which I terni thecud end.H

The cuff-end clasp needs no description, as it is the well-known form inordinary use as a clasp, and is similar to those used a substitute forclothespins.

The upper terminal portions of the double clasp shown in Fig. l and thelower terminal shown in Fig. 2, and the right-hand portions of Fig. 3,beyond the shank B, represent my inwardly-opening clasp. The claspsshown at the other extremities of the same figures are outwardly-openingclasps. In the former portions the movable jaw A', actuated by spring c,seated upon pivot d, is represented as engaged at apertures b b withprongs a a, upon the intrcverted iXed jaw, A, which is also providedwith boss e.

The sleeve -end clasp differs from other known inwardly-opening claspsin being provided With one or more prongsmupon the fixed jaw A, and alsoin the movablejaw A', being provided with apertures or depressions b,into which such prongs loosely fit and engage with the movable jaw, asis shown inFigs. l, 2, and 3. A shank or band, B, of metal or othersuitable material, connects and supports the two terminal clasps to forma double clasp, of which the cuff-end clasp holds and carries the thecuff G and the sleeve-end clasp engages with the lining L or cloth ofthe dresssleeve D to support the cuff in place. Itis apparent that whenthe lining or other fabric is caught by the prongs it will be penetratedor partially penetrated by them or doubled upon itself and held betweenthe prongs on the fixed jaw and the edges of the apertures ordepressions in the movable jaw, and thus be prevented from slipping outof the clasp until it is intentionally released. Both clasps areprovided with springs acting upon their movable jaws in the ordinarymanner. The clasps are made of any material suitable for other clasps oflike character. The prongs may be struck up integral with the fixed jawor subsequently rigidly aiiixed thereto, as may be most convenient. Theyare sufliciently prolonged and introverted beyond the edge of the fixedjaw to engage within the openings or depressions provided for thatpurpose in the upper face of the movable jaw, and to allow sufcientspace for the introduction of a fold of the lining or sleeve betweenthem and the surface of the opposing movable jaw when the latter isdepressed to receive it.

To facilitate the manipulation and adjustment of my pronged clasp Withina sleeve or lining, I have also provided a boss or projection, e, of thefixed jaw, which is intended to furnish a more convenient hold forretaining the fixed jaw in ones grasp While the Inovable jaw is beingdepressed toward it in attaching it to or detaching it from the sleeve.

The operation of my device is as follows: It is inserted with themovable jaw in close proximity to or resting against the inside of thesleeve or lining to the desired distance. The movable jaw is thereupondepressed by pressure exerted through the sleeve yupon the jaw, whichcauses a fold ofthe fabric to slide upon the jaw and under the prongs,which thus catch and hold such fold. The pressure is then relaxed andthe movable jaw actuated by its spring c securely connes the fold. Whenit is desired to detach the device, it is only necessary to exert asimilar pressure upon the movable jaw and slightly raise the fabric anddevice sufficiently to disengage the prongs,

1. An inwardly-opening clasp provided with I introverted prongs upon itsfixed jaw and corresponding apertures in its movable jaw adapted toengage such prongs, such movable jaw being actuated by a spring toengage the prongs and apertures, substantially as described.

2. A double clasp consisting of a cuff-end spring-clasp, a sleeve-endspring-clasp, and a connectingshank common to both clasps, thesleeve-end clasp being inwardlyopening and provided with prongs upon itsfixed jaw and with corresponding apertures in its movable jaw forengagement with such prongs upon an interposed fabric, substantially asdescribed.

,LOWELL J. BULLARD.

NVitnesses:

THos. H. SUTTON, J As. A. KEHLBECK.

